Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh discovered that obesity directly affects the size of one’s brain. This as a result, affects one’s cognitive abilities. In other words, a fit individual could be likened to having a larger hard drive and memory. Provided he uses it, a fit person has more mental capabilities at his disposal.
Loss of Brain Tissue
They found that obese people have 8% less brain tissue than people of normal weight. Overweight people have 4% less brain tissue than people of normal weight. Obesity is classified as having a BMI (Body Mass Index) of 30 and above. Someone is overweight if their BMI falls within 25 and 30.
The researchers scanned the brains of 94 elderly people. Although the test participants were elderly, they were all cognitively normal. They were not afflicted by brain degenerating diseases such as Alzheimer or Parkinsons. According to Dr. Paul Thompson, a UCLA professor of neurology, just a 4% loss represents, “severe” brain degeneration.
The researches also informed that the brain tissue was lost in key areas that included;
- Frontal and temporal lobes: Critical for planning and memory
- Hippocampus: Important for long-term memory
- Anterior cingulate gyrus: Responsible for executive functions and attention
- Basal ganglia: Essential for proper movement and coordination
While this study was conducted on elderly people, other earlier studies had found similar correlations for younger participants.
Other Studies
In another study published in Obesity, researchers found that higher BMI correlated with reduced brain grey matter volume in the medial temporal lobes, hippocampus and precuneus. The average age of the 690 male participants was 42.
In a study published in Neuroimage, researchers found that participants with higher BMI had reduced grey matter volumes in the frontal operculum, postcentral gyrus and putamen. The study identified structural brain differences in obese participants in several brain areas involved in the regulation of taste, reward, and behavioral control. The outcome of this study seems to indicate that obesity is a downward spiral. The more obese one becomes, the more one looses control over the brain area that regulates behaviour and reward. The loss of control in these areas could be the reason why some overweight people have absolutely no control over their eating habits.
Reasons for Loss of Brain Matter
Research has also found some possible reasons for the degeneration of brain tissue with increasing body fat levels. One possibility could be raised levels of cortisol that is evident in overweight individuals. A study published in Neuroscience established the correlation between elevated levels of the cortisol hormone and brain degeneration.
Another reason for brain degeneration in overweight people could be due to the lack of exercise. The lack of exercise could be the reason that one is overweight in the first place. Exercise has been shown to preserve brain mass via the release of chemicals that regenerate neurons. Colcombe published a study which found that aerobic fitness reduced brain tissue loss.
Overweight people also generally have higher levels of the insulin hormone. Insulin is a potent fat storage hormone. An overweight person may or may not be diabetic. The insulin hormone can stay elevated for long periods before medical tests show the sign of diabetes. The chronic elevation of insulin levels is detrimental to the body and the brain. A study published in Neuroepidemiology stated the degenerative effects of excess insulin on cognitive functions and brain volume.
The evidence is mounting that being overweight leads to an absolutely poor quality of life. Not only does it lead to lifestyle diseases, but also to reduction of cognitive abilities. The best thing that one can do for his or her health is to maintain high levels of fitness.
Pictures courtesy of Danilo Rizzuti / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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